Four teens arrested in Miami County homicide investigation

CONVERSE – A homicide investigation, by detectives from the Indiana State Police, has led to the arrests of four teens Tuesday on a preliminary charge of felony murder. 

Sunday at approximately 10:15 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police, the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, and the Converse Police Department responded to a possible shooting at a residence on 110 West Wabash Street, Apt.2, in Converse, IN. When officers arrived, they found a resident of the home 23-year-old Anthony Leadford, had been shot and was deceased. 

Benjamin Jones

During the investigation, detectives developed enough probable cause to arrest 19-year-old Aryan Vandiver-Stone, of Marion, IN, and 18-year-old Benjamin Jones, of rural Converse, IN. They were both incarcerated in the Miami County Jail. Two boys, ages 15 and 16, were also arrested. They were transported to the Allen County Juvenile Facility. All four teens currently face a charge of felony murder. 

Aryan Vandiver-Stone

On Tuesday, an autopsy conducted by Dr. Thomas Sozio, forensic pathologist, determined that Leadford’s death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. 

This is an active investigation. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Indiana State Police detectives by calling the Indiana State Police Peru Post at 1-800-382-0689 or 765-473-6666. 

The Indiana State Police was assisted with the investigation by the Marion Police Department, the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, the Converse Police Department, and the Miami County Coroner’s Office.

No further information will be released at this time.